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I went to the middle tonight and was able to hook up some nice browns nymphing... And then the fish started rising so I started throwing dry's. I was able to hook up a few but I would say I missed damn near 50% of the fish that went for my fly. Is missing fish normal or am I just terrible? I was taught nymphing when I first started and have been doing mainly that for the last few years. I just started to catch fish on dry fly's within the last few months so it could just be I need to practice but I'm curious what folks think...
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Fishing dries can be hit or miss...somedays I feel like I hook up on every take and other days I'm just trying not to hook myself with all the misses!
I have found that when I can see the fish going for the fly I tend to set the hook too early, so I will try to wait an extra half second before setting the hook. When fishing dries "blind" I just have to find the right speed on my hook set. Some days it's a quick yank and other days it's an easy raise of the rod tip
I guess what I'm trying to say is keep practicing and try different techniques to find what works for you...and practice on small streams or bodies of water with smaller fish...they are harder to get the hook set but if you can master that then bigger fish come much easier
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Thanks for the tips! From what am noticing it seems like I am just not fast enough... But I don't know how I can go faster! Maybe I'm not lifting straight up and I'm yanking out the fly... Who knows. I will try on the smaller steams. Thanks again!
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This was my first year throwing dries and the thing that was getting me the most was trying to set the hook to fast. Im guessing i wasnt letting them take it and by waiting a little bit longer I was able to up my hook up rate. Now this was in the uintas so not sure about rivers still havent figured that one out but good luck.
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I was having the same problem in the Uintas last weekend. Sometimes I think it's more like they are just head-butting the fly rather than actually trying to eat it.. teasing me... lol
Happens a lot too when the fly is too big for the fish. Going to a smaller size might help increase your hookup ratio.
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Another thing that helps. After you have presented your fly, keep rod tip down and stripping line in your had. When the fish hits the fly, gently pull the line with your stripping hand keeping rod tip down. The fish will generally follow this movement and be a little more aggressive and take thee fly a little deeper in the mouth. Then slowly lift the rod tip and set the hook.
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Agree. I'm not an expert, but I've found that striking too fast/soon pulls the fly away more often than not. I try to see the leader move, and then raise the rod tip with a short but positive pull.
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Keep real sharp hooks.
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Sounds like I need to slow it down a bit... I'm used to nymphing with an indicator so I tend to set real quick. I'll slow it down and see if that helps! Thanks as always for the great advice all...
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As everyone else has said, slowing down and letting the fish take the dry fly is important. The fish has to actually close his mouth on the fly or you won't get the hook up. I sometimes get so pumped when I see a fish taking a dry that I forget this at first. I too mostly nymph so I always have to remember SLOW DOWN when setting the hook on the dries.
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Pay attention to the angle too. Timing is more critical with a downstream presentation because you can pull the fly right out. An upstream presentation pulls the leader and fly back toward the fish. Across stream is a combination. Up and across might be your best bet. And like others have said, WAIT for it a bit, especially if presenting at a downstream angle.
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Sounds like last-second refusals. The fish see your fly, and rocket up to it, but reject it at the last second. Their momentum still causes them to break the surface giving the impression that they're taking your fly, but they're actually turning away from it.
This is quite common when fishing dry flies during caddisfly hatch activity. The trout are keying on emerging pupa that are trying to push through the surface tension, and not looking for insects riding the surface.
If you draw occasional strikes without putting any weight on the fish at all, they are not truly taking your fly. Switch up to something that rides in - or slightly below - the surface.
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I fish drys often, and I have this problem when fishing caddis drys. It seems to help if I wait a little longer to set the hook when fishing caddis. But I also wonder if the fish just flat out miss the fly sometimes. I think they rise to caddis recklessly, trying to get to the egg laying caddis before it flys off.
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[quote fishinfudd]I fish drys often, and I have this problem when fishing caddis drys. It seems to help if I wait a little longer to set the hook when fishing caddis. But I also wonder if the fish just flat out miss the fly sometimes. I think they rise to caddis recklessly, trying to get to the egg laying caddis before it flys off.[/quote]That makes sense actually, because most of the fish I miss are on caddis. I have no problem on hoppers or Adams... I'll slow it down and see how it works. Thanks!
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] Maybe smaller offering? Maybe a dropper?
]J/K
